Anthem June Newsletter

Kia ora and welcome to our June newsletter following an action-packed May.

Today we are excited to announce our success at the PR Awards Asia, winning Boutique PR Consultancy of the Year and receiving Bronze for the ANZ Watch Women Win campaign in the ‘Corporate Publications’ category.

New Zealand’s leading nation branding government agency, NZ Story, joined the ‘intense’ business trade mission across U.S states last week – hustling their way around American business partners to fly the Kiwi tech and innovation flag amidst key trading partners.

Last month saw some exciting announcements, with Anthem proud to have supported the reveal of Doordash’s arrival in Wellington, giving Kiwis the chance to enjoy a wider variety of local delights delivered straight to their door.

Stuff explored new research by Cure Kids into microneedles as a pain-free sedation alternative for the 40,000 Kiwi children undergoing hospital procedures every year. Meanwhile Exsurgo’s Chief Executive, Richard Little, spoke to Today FM’s Wellbeings show host, Dominic Bowden about the inspiration behind his digital-first chronic-pain treatment company.

Rounding out a busy month, Anthem Co-Founder and Managing Director, Carolyn Kerr spoke at Fronde’s Techweek panel and published a blog featuring her six takeaways from the event. Anthem’s partnership with TupuToa has seen us welcome new Anthemite Tayla Webb, in a part-time accounts assistant role. Last but not least, Anthemites celebrated our annual awards night back in our office, took to the bowling lanes, and enjoyed a Gold Class screening of the new Top Gun: Maverick movie, with some of Anthem’s friends and family.

Best wishes from the Anthem team. Ngā mihi nui

Anthem recognised by PR Awards Asia

Today we are excited to announce Anthem’s success as winners of the PR Awards Asia Boutique Consultancy of the Year. As the only New Zealand agency shortlisted for the award, we are delighted to have received this recognition for our hard work in PR-led strategic, integrated communications and marketing. Our talented team has seen us exceed our business goals through the delivery of standout work for our beloved clients. We have also established a Best Place to Work framework and formed new partnerships with industry and business organisations in areas including diversity and inclusion and sustainability.

Alongside this, our Watch Women Win campaign with ANZ won Bronze under the ‘Corporate Publications’ category. Another hard-earned award, we are grateful to have supported ANZ in inspiring New Zealand women to succeed in whatever field they choose.

Open for business, opening doors – NZ Story joins U.S Trade Mission

NZ Story CEO David Downs was one of many Kiwi ‘hustlers’ flying the New Zealand flag at the high profile American trade mission recently. David shared city-by-city vlogs on LinkedIn and caught up with RNZ’s Late Edition to debrief on how Americans are thinking about New Zealand and our trade opportunities as we firmly continue our path of reconnection with the world.

“What’s clear from our business interactions so far is that the USA is much more aware of New Zealand than they used to be and very favourable to us. The NZ values are well aligned with what people want now, and the USA is more open to NZ businesses than ever.”

Audio: David Downs on Kiwi-American Trade Ties

DoorDash takes on Wellington

Calling our food-loving friends! Our client DoorDash, the largest on-demand local commerce platform in the United States, launched in New Zealand last week and has chosen the foodie capital Wellington as their first Kiwi destination.

Having already expanded to places across the globe like Germany, Canada, Japan and Australia, it only made sense that Kiwis had the chance to enjoy more food, convenience and goods delivered to their door. We were so honoured to work with DoorDash to bring their platform to New Zealand and can’t wait to see them expand to the rest of the country.

Learn more

Cure Kids Research: sedative ‘microneedle plasters’ as thin as human hair

Newly funded research by Cure Kids and led by Dr Manisha Sharma is looking into a pain-free approach to sedation for Kids in the form of microneedles the thickness of human hair. Stuff health reporter, Hannah Martin, spoke to Dr Sharma about the research and what it could mean for the 40,000 children undergoing hospital procedures in New Zealand each year.

“No-one wants to see their child going through distress”, explains Dr Sharma. With a goal of improving sedation in emergency departments, microneedle research has the potential for greater flow-on effects beyond sedation. Read more about the research below.

Read the full article

Champion for drug-free chronic pain management chats to Dom Bowden

The talented Richard Little from neuroscience company Exsurgo was recently interviewed by Kiwi TV personality and host of Today FM’s WellBeings show, Dominic Bowden.

They discussed the inspiration behind the creation of Exsurgo, how utilising EEG data is enabling pain and anxiety clinicians to focus on other areas, and what drives Richard to keep at his journey of alleviating chronic pain.

Listen to the interview

Techweek spotlight: professional services amidst the new normal

Techweek 2022 saw Tech consultancy agency, and Anthem client, Fronde host an insightful panel of experienced technology and professional services practitioners, including our very own Managing Director Carolyn Kerr.

The leaders delved into the great resignation and digital transformation, and discussed how they were responding to the changing needs of professional service clients. Caro has compiled her key takeaways from the event, which you can read below.

Read the full blog post here

Anthem x TupuToa

Anthem is proud to introduce new Anthemite Tayla Webb, joining us through our partnership with TupuToa, a non-profit diversity initiative growing Māori and Pacific leaders for a greater Aotearoa.   Designed to develop economic and social prosperity through the development of a new generation of Māori and Pasifika business leaders, TupuToa brings true diversity into corporates by reducing entry and advancement barriers to corporate roles.

As a board member of Global Women, Anthem Executive Chair and Co-Founder, Jane Sweeney is proud to have supported the conceptualisation of TupuToa and to provide continued support to the initiative through Anthem’s sponsorship of their Corporate Pathways Programme.

Tayla joins us in a part-time basis while completing the final year of her Bachelor of Business, majoring in Accounting and Economics, and is grateful for the chance to grow her accounting skills by applying theory across a range of practical work.   A year on from her acceptance into TupuToa, Tayla appreciates the programme’s guidance in growing her job application skills and the ongoing mentorship and support including networking opportunities, workshops and events.

Loving Anthem life, the work culture, support, and flexibility of her placement at Anthem is a highlight for Tayla as she continues her journey as an up-and-coming business graduate.

Learn more about TupuToa

Anthemites out and about

Anthemites have been back in our Alberts office for the past month and the face-to-face reconnection is huge! From team celebrations and events to the revival of our pepeha sharing sessions, monthly and annual awards celebrations and an Anthem night out at the movies – it’s been non-stop. Featured above we celebrated the winners of Anthem’s Be the Difference and Powerful Voice awards, before taking to the lanes in a striking fashion for a competitive game of bowling.

Last week Anthem and friends also took over the local cinema for a Gold Class viewing of the sequel to Jane and Caro’s favourite 80s movie, Top Gun. Our review: a cheesy but action-packed and lovable follow on from the classic.